Several Umno leaders have made comments in the wake of malaysiakini 's 'Soros funding' furore. One particularly perceptive comment comes from Ahmad Zahid Hamidi; he stressed that news providers should not be linked with any organisation which could affect their independence - otherwise they would "be indebted to those who harbour agendas".

The effects of this indebtedness are clear: Only news that furthers the "agenda" of the backer will be permitted to be published. Editors who step out of line will be fired.

Malaysiakini reported one such case ([#1] Newsmen sacked over political report [/#], Feb 2). Mohd Noor Che Mat follows Jeniri Amir and Mohammed Kassim as editors of Utusan Sarawak to be asked to leave. Other Sarawakian newspapers have also bade farewell to a number of editors: TL Cheam, Lim Hon Ming and Solly Wong (of the People's Mirror ); and Francis Siah (of the Sarawak Tribune ). All these newspapers have links with the ruling party in Sarawak. Are there any newspapers in Malaysia that are free from debt to "those who harbour agendas"?

The government will be setting up a committee to handle inaccurate reports in the foreign media. Why not start with a committee to ensure the independence of the local media?